Retail display case

ABSTRACT

A retail display case that has an illuminated region, a region protected from illumination, a platform that is capable of moving, and a fresh meat holding area is described. The fresh meat holding area comprises a portion of the platform, and the platform is capable of moving the fresh meat holding area between the illuminated region and the region protected from illumination.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 61/179,943 filed 20 May 2009 entitled RETAIL MEAT DISPLAY CASE, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to retail display cases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fresh meat is presented to customers of grocery stores in retail display cases. After a period of time in a display case, the fresh meat tends to become discolored. This undesirable discoloration is a result of pigment oxidation on the surface of the fresh meat. Factors that influence the rate of oxidation, and therefore the appearance of the fresh meat, are illumination and temperature. The discoloration of fresh meat sold in display cases can jeopardize consumer acceptance, and therefore retailer revenue for such fresh meat.

This issue is particularly relevant with respect to fresh beef sold in display cases at grocery stores. Consumers associate beef color with freshness and prefer to see a bright cherry red color in the display case. As the pigment on the surface of a piece of fresh beef oxidizes, the beef can appear to have a slightly brownish surface color, rather than the bright red color preferred by consumers.

If fresh beef is not sold while it has a bright red color, it can become a loss to a grocery store because consumers are reluctant to purchase it. Grocery stores may need to discount the price of the discolored fresh beef, sell it in a different lower priced format, or even discard it. All of these options compromise a grocery store's retail receipts. In fact, grocery stores fail to capture hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue each year due to fresh beef discoloration.

It would desirable to maintain fresh meat at a desirable color for longer periods of time in grocery store retail display cases. Such an improvement could greatly lessen present monetary losses due to fresh meat discoloration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention features a retail display case that has an illuminated region, a region protected from illumination, a platform that is capable of moving, and a fresh meat holding area. The fresh meat holding area comprises a portion of the platform, and the platform is capable of moving the fresh meat holding area between the illuminated region and the region protected from illumination.

One or more of the following features may also be included. In some examples, the retail display case has an employee accessible region. In these examples the platform is capable of moving the fresh meat holding area between the illuminated region, the region protected from illumination, and the employee accessible region. In other examples, the illuminated region is customer accessible. In yet other examples, the region protected from illumination is also a temperature controlled region.

In some constructions, the platform moves rotatably about a vertical axis, and in other constructions the surface of the platform moves via a conveyor belt. The fresh meat held on the fresh meat holding area is fresh meat selected from the group consisting of beef, chicken, pork, duck, fish, and turkey—preferably beef.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the disclosure will become more apparent in the detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is an overhead view of an embodiment of a retail display case.

FIG. 1 b is an overhead view of an embodiment of a retail display case.

FIG. 2 a is an overhead view of an embodiment of a retail display case.

FIG. 2 b is an overhead view of an embodiment of a retail display case.

FIG. 2 c is an overhead view of an embodiment of a retail display case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Terms

The term “retail display case”, as used herein, means a container which is used to hold and display items to be sold to customers in a retail environment. The items in the retail display case are typically food items arranged in a setting for customer viewing, selection, and purchase. The retail display case may be refrigerated completely or partially, or may not be refrigerated. The retail display case may be partially or completely enclosed. In some embodiments, the retail display case of the present invention can advantageously have the same or similar dimensions as conventional cases which display meat products in retail stores, thereby allowing the present invention to be easily inserted in place of these conventional cases.

The retail display case of the present invention contains at least 2 or more regions. In some embodiments, the retail display case contains an illuminated region and a region protected from illumination. In other embodiments, the retail display case contains an illuminated region, a region protected from illumination, and an employee accessible region.

The term “illuminated region”, as used herein, means a region within the retail display case wherein the presence and degree of light is adequate for customer viewing of items held within that region. Typically, the illuminated region of the retail display case will be the region presented to customers in a retail environment. Therefore, the items placed within the illuminated region are visible to customers for viewing, selection, and purchase. Methods of ensuring that the degree of light in the illuminated region is sufficient for customer viewing are known in the art. Examples include, but are not limited to, specific lighting and general lighting. Specific lighting refers to directing a light emitting device at the illuminated region. Examples of light emitting devices include, but are not limited to, strip lights, spot lights, and safe lights. Safe lights refer to lights which are engineered to reduce the rates of pigment oxidation on the surface of fresh meats compared to conventional lights. Examples of safe lights are Promolux® Safe Spectrum® lighting products. The light emitting device may be placed within the retail display case, or just outside the retail display case. General lighting refers to allowing ambient light from the retail store where the retail display case is situated to enter the illuminated region. The illuminated region may be lit by specific lighting, general lighting, or both.

In some embodiments, the illuminated region can also be customer accessible. The term “customer accessible”, as used herein, means that items which are held in a region that is customer accessible are physically accessible to a customer without assistance from an employee of a retail store.

The term “region protected from illumination”, as used herein, means a region within the retail display case wherein the degree of light in that region is lower than the degree of light in the illuminated region. Methods or devices for ensuring that the degree of light in the region protected from illumination is lower than the degree of light in the illuminated region are known in the art. Examples include, but are not limited to, use of an overhang, use of a partition, and use of an enclosure.

An overhang refers to a physical horizontal projection over an area. In some embodiments of the retail display case utilizing an overhang, the overhang can project over the entire region protected from illumination. In other embodiments, the overhang can project over a portion of the region protected from illumination. A partition refers to a physical vertical projection set between the illuminated region and the region protected from illumination. An enclosure refers to a chamber which is partially or completely surrounded by physical barriers. In an embodiment utilizing an enclosure, the region protected from illumination can be partially or completely surrounded by barriers.

Embodiments of the retail display case may utilize one or more methods or devices for ensuring that the degree of light in the region protected from illumination is lower than the degree of light in the illuminated region. In these embodiments, the overhang and/or partition and/or enclosure can be used to shield the region protected from illumination from the specific and/or general lighting used to light the illuminated region.

In some embodiments, the region protected from illumination can be a temperature controlled region. The term, “temperature controlled region”, as used herein, means a region within the retail display case in which the temperature may be regulated. Methods of regulating the temperature are known in the art. In embodiments where the region protected from illumination is also a temperature controlled region, the temperature within the region protected from illumination will typically be lower than the temperature within the illuminated region.

The term “employee accessible region”, as used herein, means a region within the retail display case which is accessible to employees. An employee is a person who works in the retail environment in which the retail display case resides. Employee accessibility means that food items in the employee accessible region will be physically accessible to employees of a retail store. Typically, items held in the employee accessible region will be physically accessible to employees, but not to customers. The employee accessible region may additionally contain any of the characteristics of the illuminated region and/or the region protected from illumination.

In addition to having at least 2 or more regions, the retail display case of the present invention also includes a platform and a fresh meat holding area. The term “platform”, as used herein, means a surface within the retail display case which can be used to support food items placed upon it. The platform is typically horizontally extending, and is supported within the retail display case by any means conventionally known. The platform is “capable of moving” such that a portion of the platform can move between different regions of the retail display case. The entire platform may be capable of moving or a portion of the platform may be capable of moving. Movement of the platform may occur using any method known in the art. Examples of platform movement include, but are not limited to, rotation of the platform about an axis, conveyance of the platform upon a belt, and movement of the platform upon a rolling mechanism. In embodiments where the platform moves through rotation about an axis, the axis of rotation is preferably vertical or substantially vertical. Movement of the platform may occur by mechanical or electronic means. The surface of the platform can be any shape known in the art useful for supporting food items and moving within the retail display case. Examples of platform shape include, but are not limited to, linear, ring, circular, and angular such as quadrilateral, triangle, or pentagon.

In a particular embodiment, the surface of the platform is circular in shape and the platform is capable of moving rotatably about a central vertical axis. In this embodiment, a portion of the platform may rotate about the central vertical axis between the at least 2 or more regions of the retail display case.

The term “fresh meat holding area”, as used herein, means a portion of the platform that is used for holding fresh meat. The fresh meat holding area can be any portion of the platform that holds fresh meat. The fresh meat held in the fresh meat holding area can be any kind of fresh meat known in the art. Examples of fresh meat held in the fresh meat holding area include, but are not limited to, beef, chicken, pork, duck, fish, and turkey. Preferably, the fresh meat held in the fresh meat holding area is beef. Portions of fresh meat held in the fresh meat holding area can be any size typically sold to consumers in retail environments. In some embodiments, the fresh meat held in the fresh meat holding area can be pre-packaged beef.

Through movement of the platform, the fresh meat holding area can be moved between 2 or more regions of the retail display case. In all embodiments, the fresh meat holding area can be moved between the illuminated region and the region protected from illumination. When the fresh meat holding area is in the region protected from illumination, the fresh meat situated upon the fresh meat holding area is exposed to a lower degree of light than when the fresh meat holding area is in the illuminated region. Because fresh meat is exposed to a lower degree of light in the region protected from illumination than in the illuminated region, the rate of pigment oxidation on the surface of the fresh meat in the region protected from illumination will be lower than when the fresh meat is in the illuminated region. Exposure to a lower degree of light advantageously impedes discoloration on the surface of the fresh meat, thereby maintaining the fresh meat in a state more appealing to customers.

In some embodiments the region protected from illumination is also a temperature controlled region. In these embodiments, when the fresh meat holding area is in the region protected from illumination, the fresh meat situated upon the fresh meat holding area is exposed to lower temperatures than when the fresh meat holding area is in the illuminated region. Exposure to lower temperatures also reduces the rate of pigment oxidation on the surface of fresh meat.

Structure

Referring to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a retail display case 10 includes an illuminated region 20, a region protected from illumination 22, a platform 30, and a fresh meat holding area 40. The fresh meat holding area 40 comprises a portion of the platform 30. The platform 30 is capable of moving 50, thereby shifting the position of the fresh meat holding area 40 between the illuminated region 20 and the region protected from illumination 22 within the retail display case 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c, other embodiments of the retail display case 10 include an illuminated region 20, a region protected from illumination 22, an employee accessible region 24, a platform 30, and a fresh meat holding area 40. In these embodiments, the platform 30 is capable of moving 50 the fresh meat holding area 40 between the illuminated region 20, the region protected from illumination 22, and the customer accessible region 24.

Use

Referring to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c, the operation of a retail display case 10 will be described with regard to housing and displaying food items in a retail environment. Food items are placed upon the platform 30 within the retail display case 10 by an employee of a retail store. In particular, the employee places fresh meat, preferably beef, upon the fresh meat holding area 40.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c, in embodiments of the retail display case 10 which include an employee accessible region 24, the employee can place food items onto the portion of the platform 30 within the employee accessible region 24 of the retail display case 10. Once the employee has completed placing food items onto the portion of the platform 30 in the employee accessible region 24, if the employee wishes to place food items onto another portion of the platform 30, the platform 30 can be moved 50 such that a different portion of the platform 30 is within the employee accessible region 24 of the retail display case 10. Likewise, as seen in FIG. 2 c, the employee can place fresh meat upon the fresh meat holding area 40 when the fresh meat holding area 40 is within the employee accessible region 24 of the retail display case 10.

The retail display case 10 may be stocked at any time by an employee. Additionally, the employee may choose to add, remove, or move items to different portions of the platform 30 at any time, thereby rearranging the contents within the retail display case 10.

Food items on the portion of the platform 30 in the illuminated region 20 of the retail display case 10 are available for customer viewing. Therefore, when the fresh meat holding area 40 is in the illuminated region 20, the fresh meat situated upon the fresh meat holding area 40 will be available for customer viewing. The platform 30 is capable of moving 50 within the retail display case 10 such that different portions of the platform 30 may be within the illuminated region 20 at different times depending on what food items are to be viewed by the customer. In some embodiments, the customer can move 50 the platform 30 to view food items placed upon various portions of the platform 30. In other embodiments, only the employee may move 50 the platform 30, thereby determining what items will be available for customer viewing. In yet other embodiments, both the employee and the customer may be capable of moving 50 the platform 30. Movement of the platform 30 may occur by mechanical means or may occur electronically.

When a customer or employee wants to view or display a different portion of the platform 30, the platform 30 may be moved 50 such that the different portion of the platform 30 is in the illuminated region 20 of the retail display case 10. When the platform 30 is thus moved 50, the portion of the platform 30 that was previously in the illuminated region 20 may have moved 50 to the region protected from illumination 22. Therefore, when the fresh meat upon the fresh meat holding area 40 is to be viewed by the customer, the fresh meat holding area 40 will be within the illuminated region 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 2 a. When items upon a different portion of the platform 30 are to be viewed by the customer, the fresh meat holding area 40 may have moved to reside within the region protected from illumination 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 b and 2 b.

In a typical day of use of the retail display case 10 of the present invention in a retail store, the fresh meat holding area 40 will be within different regions of the retail display case 10 for different amounts of time throughout the day. Thus, for the period of time that the fresh meat holding area 40 is in the region protected from illumination 22, the fresh meat in the fresh meat holding area 40 will be subjected to an environment in which the degree of light is lower than in the illuminated region 20. In embodiments of the retail display case 10 where the region protected from illumination 22 is also a temperature controlled environment, the fresh meat held in the region protected from illumination 22 will be at a lower temperature than in the illuminated region 20.

In a conventional case housing fresh meat, the degree of light that the fresh meat is subjected to will typically be constant throughout the day. This degree of light will be comparable to the degree of light in the illuminated region 20 of the retail display case 10. The fresh meat stored in the retail display case 10 of the present invention will not generally be exposed to a degree of light useful for customer viewing throughout the day. Rather, the retail display case 10 of the present invention can advantageously allow fresh meat to be protected from illumination for a significant portion of each day, but remain easily accessible for viewing or display when so desired.

In another exemplary use of the present invention, food items can be positioned for display purposes only within the illuminated region 20. These food items could be real or synthetic and are meant for customer viewing, not for sale. Other food items which are meant for sale can be placed into the region protected from illumination 22. The food items in the illuminated region 20 are show pieces which can be viewed by customers to make a selection. Food items in the region protected from illumination 22 are the same as those on display in the illuminated region 20. Once a food item selection is made by a customer from the options in the illuminated region 20, the platform 30 can be moved such that food items previously in the region protected from illumination 22 are shifted to the illuminated region 20. The customer may then acquire his desired food item. Once the customer's desired food item is obtained, the platform 30 can revert to its original position in which only the display food items are in the illuminated region 20.

For example, a customer that wants to purchase fresh beef from a retail display case 10 can view the display food items until he finds a show piece of fresh beef. The platform 30 can then be moved such that pieces of fresh beef previously within the region protected from illumination 22 become visible to the customer. The customer can then make his purchase from among these fresh beef options. After the customer makes his purchase, the platform 30 can revert to its original position where only the show piece of fresh beef is in the illuminated region 20. All the other pieces of fresh beef return to the region protected from illumination 22 until another customer decides to make a purchase.

In this exemplary use of the present invention, only the display food items will be subject to illumination for significant portions of a day. 

1. A retail display case comprising: an illuminated region, a region protected from illumination, a platform that is capable of moving, and a fresh meat holding area: wherein the fresh meat holding area comprises a portion of the platform, and the platform is capable of moving the fresh meat holding area between the illuminated region and the region protected from illumination.
 2. The retail display case of claim 1, wherein in the illuminated region is customer accessible.
 3. The retail display case of claim 2, further comprising an employee accessible region, wherein the platform is capable of moving the fresh meat holding area between the illuminated region, the region protected from illumination, and the employee accessible region.
 4. The retail display case of claim 3, wherein in the region protected from illumination is also a temperature controlled region.
 5. The retail display case of claim 3, wherein the platform moves rotatably about an axis.
 6. The retail display case of claim 5, wherein the axis is a substantially vertical axis.
 7. The retail display case of claim 3, wherein the surface of the platform moves via conveyance on a belt.
 8. The retail display case of claim 3, wherein fresh meat held on the fresh meat holding area is fresh meat selected from the group consisting of beef, chicken, pork, duck, fish, and turkey.
 9. The retail display case of claim 8, wherein the fresh meat held on the fresh meat holding area is beef. 